Hell is something different for each of us. Limbo By Jaime Serra – 1361 {{PD}}

What fresh hell is this, that our attention is repeatedly drawn to the unwise and the impractical? Our minds are sharp, working about as free from confusion and obscuring fog as possible, and yet we may spend too much time and energy berating ourselves for awkward choices or matters that just aren’t working out, or we could find ourselves staring at others’ mistakes, mesmerized like passers-by at an accident scene. The problem is that we’re haunted by experiences in the past that told us that to be strong, autonomous, and confident didn’t win us any friends–that in fact when we stuck to our principles and standards we were painted in a very unattractive light–but that was a reality reflected back at us by those who wanted to use us, who wanted to keep us unsure for their own purposes. Now it’s clear we can see how very right it is to see ourselves as our own authority, to honor our values and commitments, and to support both our practicality and what we consider wise. Today is a day for reassessing the way we see our past, and for realizing that the idea of ourselves as inadequate to address the issues in our own lives is so very far from reality.

Today’s word image is: a newly-purchased car has engine trouble. This situation could make anyone question their own judgment; if we see ‘newly-purchased’ indicating a direction or goal we’ve just chosen, and ‘engine trouble’ as (unexpected) difficulty moving forward or getting events rolling, we may think we’ve made a bad choice. Certainly you’ve potentially chosen poorly, but before you go there, consider that this event may be forcing you to pause, creating a situation where you must slow your roll and take a long look at what’s pushing you forward (the engine)–further examination of the circumstances will only work to your benefit.

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The Ear-Ring exhibited 1911 Ambrose McEvoy {{PD}}

Oh, today we’re offered some wonderful influences, if we can keep from spoiling things by letting egos or dark impulses off the leash. These less productive urges aren’t to be denied, but channeled into better uses; as long as the ego eschews aggression and respects the power situation, and we employ awareness of the dark as what helps us appreciate the light, we can go far. Keeping highest values as guidelines, and keeping a ‘healing intention’ no matter what the interaction, will give us our best results, on a day that has the potential to go off the rails if we indulge dark thoughts, envy, or what we know to be unhealthy.

Japan, 1865 Series: One Hundred Ghost Tales from China and Japan Prints ‘Changing Into a Rat’ Color woodblock print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a rat. I have to say, I resisted using this symbol, but it wouldn’t leave me alone, so I’m assuming someone, somewhere, needs to be alerted to the ‘rat’ in their midst. For a few who’ve had rats as pets, the word is they’re delightful; for them this could be a reminder of something most people recoil from that they regard with affection. For the rest of us, the image may refer to someone or something in our life that doesn’t have our best interests at heart–as long as we see them for what they are (Self-interested, and maybe looking to undermine us, to ‘rat us out’ over our own weaknesses) we’ll be able to deal.

Alfred Wierusz-Kowalski {{PD}}

Adjust your ideas of what your power and reach should be–today, it’s that simple.

Today’s word image is a wolf. This is a much-feared animal, the name of which has entered the vernacular to indicate someone predatory or aggressive–but it turns out, we may have misunderstood the nature of the beast all this time. Is there something or someone you may see as much more fearsome than they are? And are you willing to take another look?

Max Slevogt – ‘Portrait of the dancer Marietta di Rigardo’ 1903 {{PD}}

Here’s to hoping we’re all being scrupulously honest with ourselves, because those who aren’t will find their own actions, relationships, what they value, blowing up in their faces, and real changes will come to their place in the power structure–read that as, ‘power will be yanked away from them’–but that’s not you, is it, kind reader? We do have quick and original thinking at our disposal; mental inventiveness peaks, but it’s also imperative that we don’t promise more than we can deliver. The silver lining in all this is that what occurs can foster significant healing, most especially between the individual and the Truth, but only if there is willingness to see and accept reality for what it is, and to see ourselves in that same, clear light.

Today’s word image is a Boston terrier that sits for hours at a time, observing himself in a mirror. This is one of those times when the interconnectedness of events should be more obvious to us than ever, and this applies particularly to issues of forgiveness and judgment. Inspect those areas of life that are being held up to you as a reflection, especially in terms of showing you the attitude to take, or how to proceed, in an unrelated area.

Have a great week! Donate at right, read through this link, and breathe deeply, taking in New Moon energy as it builds toward that first August eclipse.

By Eilif Peterssen – nwEXZQtnF4q9xw at Google Cultural Institute, zoom level maximum, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29841562

What’s smart is empowering (that’s no surprise), but we seem determined to rebel or shock, to go into the future blindly, to mess with the power balance in relationships and/ or finances, and all of it, yes all of it, springs from misguided beliefs, misunderstandings, and a general spiritual malaise that makes it hard to focus on the good stuff. We find the flaws in our ideals, and then are angry, not realizing that ideals are essentially static, dimensionless ideas of perfection that don’t take into account the messiness of human life and the riotous inclinations of Nature. Forgive everyone and everything, but especially yourself, for not being Perfect–and if possible, try to appreciate the beauty and energy to be found in the mess.

Today’s word image is two children, playing at being monsters, who are sitting down to afternoon tea wearing fancy hats; they are talking in ‘monster’ voices while passing invisible sandwiches and asking, ‘One lump or two?’ This image suggests the normalization of something abnormal–or is it the incursion of one thing into another, that simply doesn’t belong? Once you identify this, you have to ask yourself, does it need to change?